Saturday saw all sailors arriving at the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club for registration and safety checks of all equipment. The first race day, Sunday, saw a long delay waiting for the wind to fill in, but eventually it came, and 3 races were sailed.
Year 8 student Callum McRae got off to a blistering start with a 3rd place in Race 1. Monday, Day 2, again suffered a long 4 hour delay, this time for too much wind. It turned out to be a tough day for the sailors and race committee on and off the water, with just one race sailed. The race started in a 20 knot Westerly with a strong outgoing tide. Wind gusts approaching 30 knots were experienced during the race, resulting in conditions towards the upper limit for the class.
With the effect of the tide, coupled with the strong wind, many boats, including Callum, did not make the start line in the 5 minute window. Of 80 entries, only 25 manage to start the race, and only 7 finished. Fortunately Callum was able to exclude this score. Day 3 was what sailing is all about with wonderful conditions and 4 races completed.
At the completion of the 8-race regatta, Callum placed 15th out of 80 entries, and 9th Year 8 boy, with his best race results being 3rd, 9th and 10th places.
Recent Rio silver medallist Molly Meech and her brother, Sam, who won bronze in the Laser class, were on hand to encourage the sailors and sign autographs.
